If Endoriftia is indeed a #mixotroph it might explain why this symbiosis is that successful and widespread at vents. The escaped free-living symbionts seed the environment and enhance the probability that both partners find each other, which is crucial to establish the symbiosis for new host generations. Additionally it might help to reach also more distant vent sites and hosts
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RT @mixotrophe
Interested in marine #mixotroph ecology / evolution? Looking for a postdoctoral position? I'm planning to hire 1 or 2 postdocs next year to work on #constitutive mixotroph climate adaptation and/or #Mesodinium kleptoplasty! Please email me w/ your interest + CV. Please R/T!